Proverbs 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Proverbs 18:13
If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This isn't just about not interrupting; it points to the temptation to jump in, thinking you already know the whole story. This urge to speak before fully listening is actually a deep character flaw that guarantees you'll look foolish and be embarrassed.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that contrast foolishness with wisdom and righteousness. It immediately follows verses that highlight the destructive nature of gossip and the importance of using speech wisely. The surrounding verses emphasize listening before speaking, offering a sharp warning against jumping to conclusions and speaking prematurely, especially in arguments or when delivering judgments.
Ever jumped to conclusions or given advice before fully understanding a situation? That impulse, while common, is a fast track to trouble.
Proverbs 18:13 cuts straight to the heart of the matter: true wisdom demands patience. Before we form a judgment or offer a solution, we must first listen. This isn't just about good manners; it's about avoiding 'folly and shame.'
The Cost of Rushing
Wisdom calls us to be 'swift to hear, slow to speak' (James 1:19). This biblical principle grounds us in humility and allows truth to be fully revealed before we respond.
It's easy to hear words without truly grasping their meaning. This proverb warns against mistaking sound for sense.
The Hebrew phrase translated as 'answers a matter' or 'returneth a word' implies not just speaking, but offering a response or judgment. The danger highlighted here is offering that response before fully hearing and comprehending the entire matter.
The Deception of Partial Knowledge
Understand the original words
iwweleth · Hebrew Noun
Moral stupidity or the refusal to apply God-given wisdom. It represents a life lived contrary to the fear of the Lord, often resulting in self-inflicted harm or disgrace.
This passage directly echoes Proverbs 18:13 by urging believers to be 'quick to listen, slow to speak,' highlighting the wisdom of hearing fully before responding.
This ancient wisdom text offers a near-parallel, advising, 'Answer not before thou hast heard the cause; neither interrupt men in the midst of their talk,' reinforcing the folly of premature speech.
Jesus' interaction with Mary and Martha shows the value of attentive listening ('Mary...sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said') over busy, perhaps premature, activity, illustrating the virtue of truly hearing.
Job 6:24Job pleads for understanding before judgment, asking, 'Teach me, and I will be silent; show me where I have erred,' which reflects the spirit of Proverbs 18:13 by seeking comprehension before critique.
bensonProverbs 18:13: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
Proverbs 18:13 . He that answereth a matter before he beareth it — Before he hath fully heard and considered what another is speaking about it; it is folly and shame unto him — It is a shameful folly, though he seek the reputation of a wise man by it; as if he could readily and thoroughly understand all that another can say before he has uttered it.
ellicottProverbs 18:13: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
(13) He that answereth a matter before he heareth it . . .—Comp. Ecclesiasticus 11:8 .
This isn't just about not interrupting; it points to the temptation to jump in, thinking you already know the whole story. This urge to speak before fully listening is actually a deep character flaw that guarantees you'll look foolish and be embarrassed.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that contrast foolishness with wisdom and righteousness. It immediately follows verses that highlight the destructive nature of gossip and the importance of using speech wisely. The surrounding verses emphasize listening before speaking, offering a sharp warning against jumping to conclusions and speaking prematurely, especially in arguments or when delivering judgments.
This verse is part of a collection of wisdom sayings in Proverbs that contrast foolishness with wisdom and righteousness. It immediately follows verses that highlight the destructive nature of gossip and the importance of using speech wisely. The surrounding verses emphasize listening before speaking, offering a sharp warning against jumping to conclusions and speaking prematurely, especially in arguments or when delivering judgments.
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True wisdom involves not just the physical act of hearing, but the mental and emotional process of understanding. Until we have the full picture, any answer we give is built on shaky ground.
"If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame." — This isn't just about not interrupting; it points to the temptation to jump in, thinking you already know the whole story. This urge to speak before fully listening is actually a deep character fla…